Jail sentence of molester affirmed

KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here yesterday affirmed the jail sentence of a man convicted of molesting his sister-in-law last year.

Justice Datuk Nurchaya Hj Arshad dismissed the appeal by the 37-year-old man to have his sentence varied.

On November 21, 2017, the lower court jailed the appellant for 42 months plus three strokes of the cane for fondling the breast of his 29-year-old sister-in-law at a house in Penampang on November 15, 2017.

The appellant had on that day pleaded guilty as charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail of 10 years or with a fine or with whipping or any two of the punishments, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, two young motorists were fined by the Traffic Court here yesterday for driving without a licence.

Magistrate Afiq Agoes fined Ahmad Hafiz Syaifful Idham RM550 while Mohd Fairuz Animin received a RM350 fine after they pleaded guilty as charged under Section 26 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which is punishable with a fine of up to RM2,000 or a maximum jail of three months or both, upon conviction.

The court also ordered both accused persons, aged 20 and 32 years old respectively, to be jailed for two months if they failed to pay their fines.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Hanif Mamyudi told the court that Ahmad Hafiz was arrested at Jalan Lorong Api-Api here on December 17, 2017 while Mohd Fairuz was apprehended at Jalan Tun Fuad on July 29.